Today’s special: Festival of food, wine

Barack Obama’s pastry chef and the co-founder of the world’s best restaurant are among a galaxy of global culinary giants on the menu for a major national festival next month.

Ballymaloe House and Ballymaloe Cookery School in Cork yesterday announced details of the country’s first literary festival celebrating food and wine, which has been dubbed the “Glastonbury of food festivals”.

Hosted by Irish food champion, cook, and author Darina Allen, Lit Fest (Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine), which runs from May 3-6, will feature more than 40 diverse events to tempt and treat gourmands, connoisseurs, and food and drink fans.